The Public Health Oath

In dedication to these high goals, on my honor, and with a clear understanding of these obligations that I as a public health professional have accepted, I do, this day, commit myself.

As a public health professional, I hold sacred my duty to protect and promote the health of the public. I believe that working for the public’s health is more than a job, it is a calling to public service. Success in this calling requires integrity, clarity of purpose and, above all, the trust of the public. Whenever threats to trust in my profession arise, I will counter them with bold actions and clear statements of my professional ethical responsibilities.

I do hereby swear and affirm to my colleagues and to the public I serve that I commit myself to the following professional obligations.

In my work as a public health professional:

• I will strive to understand the fundamental causes of disease and good health and work both to prevent disease and promote good health.
• I will respect individual rights while promoting the health of the public.
• I will work to protect and empower disenfranchised persons to ensure that basic resources and conditions for health are available to all.
• I will seek out information and use the best available evidence to guide my work.
• I will work with the public to ensure that my work is timely, open to review, and responsive to the public’s needs, values, and priorities.
• I will anticipate and respect diverse values, beliefs, and cultures.
• I will promote public health in ways that most protect and enhance both the physical and social environments.
• I will always respect and strive to protect confidential information.
• I will maintain and improve my own competence and effectiveness.
• I will promote the education of students of public health, other public health professionals, and the public in general, and work to ensure the competence of my colleagues.
• I will respect the collaborative nature of public health, working with all health professionals who labor to protect and promote health.
• I will respectfully challenge decisions that are contrary to supporting and protecting the public’s health.
• In all that I do I will put the health of the public first, even when doing so may threaten my own interest or those of my employer.